Students zapped: 4 colleges, same counselling date

Students zapped: 4 colleges, same counselling date

BANGALORE: It's the worst nightmare for medical students—being called for a selection process by different colleges on the same day. In this case, students who have appeared for various post graduate medical entrance tests have to be in four places at the same time on May 24.

The counselling date of four medical colleges - Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) that conducts PGCET, Manipal University, St John's Medical College and Sri Devraj Urs Medical College, Kolar are clashing. All their counselling processes are scheduled on May 24.

"I have appeared for all four tests. Writing so many tests is of no use if you are not given a chance to appear for the seat selection process at all. Although Manipal allows you to send a representative to attend the counselling, the certificates will remain with me. So it does not make sense to send anyone on my behalf," says Manjunath B (name changed), a student who has a good rank both in Manipal and the RGUHS PGCET.

Aspirants also say that the jampacked schedule has only heightened confusion among candidates. "Answer keys for exams like PGCET were given two days back but the last date to send objections was set as May 17. It is callousness. For a student living in Bangalore, it is still possible, but for those living in far-off places, the post cannot reach these offices within two days," said Rohit R (name changed), another student, who appeared for the PGCET and post graduation test conducted by St John's Medical College.

Students also say that the general pattern of conducting counselling - for all India tests first and then state level - has also been overruled this time. "I was expecting NEET to conduct its counselling process before PGCET or Manipal. The whole system is now upside down. We are all confused about how to go ahead with it. I have scored 160 out of 200 in PGCET and am expecting a good rank. But I would not like to let go off other counselling sessions too," said Ritika (name changed).

Aspirants also fear that with lot more counselling dates yet to be announced, many more collisions are likely to happen in future.

Our hands are tied

"We have got a calendar of events and we are supposed to stick to the dates. The last date to wrap up the process has been set as May 31, 2013 and no one can go beyond that. The time available is very less and hundreds of universities and institutions will be conduction counselling in this time period. It is only obvious that dates will clash. We need to get done with the process so that it does not clash with ComedK counselling. Everybody is in hurry to finish by May 31," said D Prem Kumar, registrar, RGUHS.
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